Aerial ladder.



PATBNTED APR. 17, 1906.

A. W. SHAW.

AERIAL LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE $1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Aya/.Shaw

PATENTED APR. 17, 1906.

A. W. SHAW.

AERIAL LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2. 1905.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

. No. 818,304. PATBNTED APR. 17, 1906.

A. W. SHAW. AERIAL LADDER.

APPLlOATIDN FILED TUNE 2. 1905. l

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a/Tz PATENTED APP.. 17, 1906.

A. W. SHAW. AERIAL LADDER.'

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZ. 1905.

4 SHEBTS-SHEBT 4. I

UNITED srArEs NT OFFICE.

LANG/USW. SHAV; @F.TORONTO; CANADA, ASSIGNOR TOV ROBERT FLEMING, EIN TRUST.

AEHIAL LADDER.

f Specc'ation of Letters Patent.

f Patented-3Apri1 12.1906.

Appiicaaonied June 2. 1905. serinNa'zaY/ifii.

Beiit=known that i, ANGUs WILLIAM SHAW,

' in the Province of Ontario, Canada,` have 'invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Aerial Ladders, of which the following is a specification My ginvention relates to' improvementsl in ,-aerialzla'dders or lifts g` and the object bf the'in- .vention isfto construct a`device of 'this Ilclass,

which' may' be `raised to any desi'red height e.ipeditiously, and therebyin Case f. a re en iableit to be usedasv afire-escape-as well as a kmeans'for enabling theliremen to combat the fire by being able to reach "the requiredheight f to` utili-ze their hose, which'may bealsosused as ank elevator for conveying building ymaterials oruolther articles tov any desiredheight,

vandfwhich may be used as anadjustable support=forscaffoldings, wherebyfit may be :raised and im'aintained: at any 4desired height, and-for various otherfuses which it is not necessaryhere to enumerate; and it consists,

essentially, yof. a suitable base designed preferably to be' located on a`wagonyan expansible and collapsible standard comprising sides made upof cross-bars pivotally connected to- ;.getherrat their centersarid at'f'the erids to cross-rods, a, platform located at" :the upper end of the standard, an extensible'bridge operable therefrom, suitable 'standards on the 4,platform of thewagon4 provided 'with seg- ',mental wormgears operated through :worms rRand suitable. gearing, andV a central eXtensi- -ble telescopic standard, a suitable'storagetank,- an'd Huidfpumps designed toinj ect the fluid, from 'the storage-tank into the standard,

so as to raise 'the same, 'the parts being constructed and arranged indeta'il as hereinafter lmore particularly explained.

`Figure 1 is a .perspective view'ofmy` aerial 4 ladder, 4partially broken away to eichib'it the construction thereof. I2 is ani enlarged perspective 1 ldetail showing 'the segmental gears,whichform part ofthe meansi for raising theladder. `3 is an. enlarged detail of Ithe top platformand supplemental rotating fplatform, -the latter :being A partially broken. away. lFig, 'eis an enlarged vertical section throuirhthe upper portion of the ladder and xtop lplatform and extension-bridge.

'Fig'. i5y is avdetail showing'. the clutch on the end of themain operating-spindle.

B B are a pair of standardsg'onepair being,

'located on each vside of "the platform.

'C is a 'shaft extending througlibearingsjin the 4top of each pair 'of standards, and D? D are segmentalworm-gears substanti ally semie circular and journal'ed on the "shafts C.

E'E are a pair ofworms m-eshingwitli the "segmental worm-whe`els D D, such'wormsbe- Jing secured on or rform-ingpartlv of-'sui-table cured on the ends 1of fthe'sh'afts'rEE- and mesh- -ing with each other. lEg'is a bevielegearpinion secured on the end of one of the shafts'E:

" F isA across-shaftlwhihh is Iprovided with a bevel-pinion" F` near'each end theref,lwhich me'shes'with the `bevelegear E3. VfThe"shaft` F isjournaled in suitable b earings Fzyasfin'dicated, and extendsl through one ff fthe-f sides A of the platform A.

f Gis the collapsible and eXpansible-.standard, comprising the -seriesf of' cross'fbars" G, pivotally connected together at ltheir'cerrter and at the ends tothe pair beneath' them by means -ofthel cross-rods:A G2,"whi'ch" extend through' the ends of` the bars, as indicated.

The bottom endsy of the 'lowermostj pair of cross-bars are `pivotally connected to' lthetop of the opposite ends of theadjacently-placed 'worm-gears D D. The cross-bars"` arey preferably gradually reduced in length freni fbottom to top, so as to-form a ltapered standard srnaller'ati 'the top than at the yb(`)ttorn,"and 'the ends of the top cross-bars are connected lto 'lugs' H of the ytop platform H.

' I represents tension-springs connectingthe- IOO ` L, with its accompanying on each side of the base A, and such clampingspindle when it is desired to move the wagon may be raised and the arm K swung clear of the j ground, being held up by any suitable means.

L is abrace, the ends or which are pivotally connected to tne end of the shaft C and a bracket C', secured to the base A. The outer end of the brace L is formed with bearings L, in which is journaled the spindle L2, carrying a reel L2.

L4 is an arm pivoted on a pin on the brace L underneath the reel L3 and provided with a clamping-spindle L5, by which the end of the brace L may be steadied and the base A thereby also steadied and held normally in position. There is o1l course a brace parts, at each side of the base A. The reel A carries a chain or guy-wire, preferably a flexible guy-wire L,which extends to an eyebolt L7 on the pivotal connection between the bars G. The guy-wires L'5 are designed to steady the aerial ladder as it rises, and the roller L3 is a springroller of somewhat the window-shade type, which allows of the wire to pass outwardly step by step, so that no matter at what point the aerial ladder may be raised to the guywires L3 will serve to hold it from swaying.

M is a reservoir for air, steam, or other uid, and Ml is a pipe leading from the reservoir M into the chamber M2, formed in the base A.

I. M3 is another chamber located adjacent to the chamber M2, and M4 represents the cylinders of a series of pumps which are located on the top of the casings of the chambers M2 and M3. l

M5 and M3 are the valve-casings, in which are located the valves of the pumps.

H7 represents the pistons of the pumps,

` which are connected by the piston-rods M8 to an ordinary eccentric M2 on the shaft N. The valves M5 and MG serve as a means of controlling the communication between the chambers M2 and M3.

N is a crank-handle secured on the end of the shaft N. N2 is a sprocket-wheel on the shaft N, such sprocket-wheel being connected by a sprocket-chain N3 through a sprocketwheel N4 on the end of the cross or counter shaft F.

N5 is an ordinary ratchet-tooth clutch, one member of which is loose on the shaft N and forms part of the sprocket-wheel loose on the shaft, and the other member of which is secured to rotate with the shaft by a featherkey, is longitudinally adjustable thereon, and is normally held in engagement with the other member by a spring N6.

O is the bottom mem er of a telescopic standard, and O', O2, and O3 are the other members, starting from the bottom. The

the end of l, member O of the telescopic standard is securely held in the base.

P is a pipe leading from the chamber M3 to j the base O2 of the telescopic standard.

P is a T, secured intermediate of the length j of the pipe P, and P2 is a pipe extending upwardly from the T P and having at the upper end a T P3, from which extends a pipe PL3 to the reservoir.

P5 is a controlling valve, whereby when open the exhaust fluid maybe allowed to escape back into the reservoir M.

It will of course be understood that the connections between the different members of the telescopic standard are properly packed, so as to prevent the escape of fluid.

At the top of the member O T provide a head O5,having laterally-extending pins O3, on which are located the end brackets O2, through which extend the rods O2, which extend through and are secured in the brackets O2, pivotally swung on the rods G2.

The member O2 is provided with a head Q, whichis connected by rods vQ, to the rods G2, similarly to the manner of connecting the head O5 to the rods G2.

It will be noticed that the lugs H are slotted lugs and that the top pins G2 are provided with rollers G2, which are designed to have inward and outward movement in the slotted lugs H', according as the aerial ladder is caused to ascend or descend. The top of the member 03 of the telescopic standard is central depending projection R, formed in the center of the bottom of the platform. An upwardly-extending projection R2 carries on its reduced upper end a gear-wheel R3.

R4 isa chair which is secured to the top of the gear-wheel R3 and is provided with an upwardly-extending hollow bossR, having a groove R6. y

S is a sleeve which is pivoted on the diagonally-located lugs S', attached to or forming part of the supplemental platform T, and S2 is a set screw which extends through the sleeve S into the groove R3. It will thus be seen that the sleeve S will rotate on the hollow boss R5 and be held from displacement by the set-screw S2. l

The supplemental platform T is provided, preferably, with a railing T T2 is a spindle journaled in the bearingboss T3, attached to or forming part of the supplemental platform T, and TL1 is a pinion on the lower end of the spindle T2. The upper end is provided with a suitable hand-wheel T5. It will now be seen that by means of the hand -wheel T3 the-\supplemental platform may be circularly adjusted or rotated on the top of the main or supporting platform H.

In order to form a support for the platform at the side on which is located the bridge U, I providel a screw-spindle T6, which extends screwed into a sleeve Rinto which fits the IOO IIO

through a threaded boss T7, attached to or forming part o1' the platform and is provided at the lower end with a roller T8, which is designed to ride on a circular track H2 on the platform.

T9 is hand-wheel, whereby the spindle TG may be vertically adjusted, and thereby the -supplemental platform T tilted on the lugs S,

mental platform T and substantially on a line with the slotted bars U.

U5 represents a series of cross-bars pivotally connected together at the ends and` at the center on the rods U2. These bars are of the same form as the ordinary extension-gate. The inner endsfof the bars U5 are connected by the bars U6 to a pin U7 at each side forming part of the rack V, the upper bars U6 extending through the slots U4.

Vl represents the pinions, which mesh with the racks and with each other, being suitably j ournaled at the bottom of the platform. The spindle V2 of one of the pinions V is provided with a ratchet-wheel V3, which is engaged by a coacting pawl V". V5 is the handwheel, located at the upper end of the spindle and designed to be utilized to turnthe spindle, and thereby throw the racks inwardly and outwardly, and consequently extend or collapse the bridge.

The bottom oi the bridge is formed of a series of slats W, connected to a flexible belt which extends around'a roller lV at the inner end, such roller being journaled in the brackets U2 and being a spring-actuated roller having a normal tendency to always pull the slatted floor W. of the` bridge inwardly. The outer end of the slatted floor W of the bridge is connected to a cross-plate U8, by which the outer slotted bars U are connected.

It will now be seen that the platform T may be tilted to any desired extent, so that the extension-bridge may be raised to any desired angle, and thereby inserted in any window or door in a building, and that when the proper angle is reached the bridge may be thrown forward by the means which I have designed, so that afireman may obtain entrance into the building through the window or otherwise.

When the desired work has been accomplished byA the firemen or others, the bridge may be withdrawn by manipulating the handwheel V5, so that it may be collapsed into the position shown in the drawings.

In order to raise the platforms H and T to the desired height, .the shaft N is rotated by means of the crank-handle l or by a suitable power means, if desired, and the pumps thereby set'in motion, so as to force the fluid. from the-chambers M2 and M3 through a pipe P and up through the telescopic members O, O', O2, and O3 of the standard, thereby raising the standard and at the same time pulling upon the rods Q .and O8 and thefbars G2, .thus tending to pull the bars inwardly. At the same ytime also motion is communicated to the shaft F bythe means hereinbefore described, so that the worms E work on their respective segmental worm-gears D, throwing the ends connected to the bars G upwardly, and thus tending to lengthen the space betweenV the bars G.

It will now be understood that my aerial ladder is raised not only by means of the fluid pumped into the telescopic standard,but also by the worin-gear, thus providing an effectual, steady, durable, and positive means of raising the aerial ladder to any desired height What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination with the base and standards located thereon and the stud-shaft supported in the standards, of a pair of segmental worm-gears journaled on each studshaft, the expansible and collapsible standard comprising the crossed side bars and end connecting-rods, the ends of the lowermost bars of which are connected to the ends of the segmental worm-gears, and worm-shafts provided with worms suitably ournaled in the base and engaging said worm-gears, and means for turning such worm-shafts as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination with the base and standards located thereon and. the stud-shaft supported in the standards, of a pair of segmental worm-gears journaled on each studshaft, the expansible and collapsible standard comprising the crossed side bars and end connecting-rods, the ends of the lowermost IOO bars on one side being connected to one pair of segmental gears and the lowermost bars on the other side being connected to the other pair of segmental gears one bar being connected to each gear, and two pairs of wormshafts provided with worms suitably journaled in the base and intermediate meshinggears located on the ends of the worm-shafts, bevel-gears locatedl on the end of one wormshaft of each pair, a cross-shaft having bevelgears meshing with the aforesaid bevel-gears and means for driving such cross-shaft as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination with the base and the expansible and collapsible standard, of the braces extending laterally out from the base and being pivoted thereto, spring-actuated reels supported on the ends of the braces, the guys carried by such reels and extending up Po he standards as and for the purpose speci- '1e y 4. The combination with the base and expansible and collapsible standard suitably IIO supported thereon, of the top platform, the telescopic standard secured to the base and connected at the top to the platform, means for actuating said expansible and collapsible standard and means for extending and contracting such telescopic standard as and for the purpose specified.

5. rlhe combination with the base and expansible and collapsible standard suitably supported thereon, of the top platform, the telescopic standard'secured to the base and connected at the top to the platform7 means for actuating said expansible and collapsible standardy and Huid-pressure means for extending and contracting such telescopic standard as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination with the base and the expansible and collapsible standard comprising the two sets of oppositely-placed crossbars and the rods connecting the two sets, and means connected to the bottom of the lower cross-bars for expanding and contracting the two sets, the telescopic standard and means for extending and contracting the same, of rods located within the collapsible standard and pivotally connected to the head of the intermediate length of the telescopic standard and to the connecting crossrods of the collapsible and expansible standard as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination with the expansible and collapsible standard comprising the sets of cross-bars connected together and means for expanding and contracting the same, of the extensible and contractible telescopic standard located within the aforesaid standard, a base for supporting both standards, a fluid-reservoir supported on the base, a main driving-shaft and fluid-pumps located on the base driven from such shaft and designed to pump the fluid from the reservoir into the telescopic standard, so as to extend the same as andfor the purpose specified.

8. The combination with the expansible and collapsible standard comprising the sets of cross-bars connected together and means for expanding and contracting the same, of the extensible and contractible telescopic standard located within the aforesaid standard, a base for supporting both standards, a fluid-reservoir supported on the base, a main driving-shaft, and fluid-pumps located on the base, driven from such shaft, and designed to pump the fluid from the reservoir into the telescopic standard, so as to extend the same, and a suitable exhaust-pipe from the telescopic standard into the reservoir and a controlling-valve for such pipe as and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination with the main vtop platform and the supplemental platform supported on the same, of a bridge supported on the supplemental platform and provided with a slatted fioor, and means at the inner end for rolling up such fioor when the bridge is being drawn in as specified.

10. In an aerial ladder, in combination a top platform, a supplemental platform supported centrally on the top platform, so that it may be rotated and tilted and a screwspindle extending through a threaded sleeve attached to the supplemental platform and provided with a roller at the bottom designed to ride on a track on the platform, and ahand- 1yvheel at the top as and for the purpose specil1. In an aerial ladder, the combination with the top platform suitably supported on the standard and provided with a central boss and gear-wheel secured to the same, of a chair secured to the top of the gear-wheel and provided with a central boss, a sleeve located on the reduced central boss of such chair and having a set-screw extending therethrough into an annular groove in the boss, aV

supplemental platform having depending lugs pivotally connected to the sleeve, a spindle suitably journaled in the supplemental platform and provided with a pinion at one end meshing with the aforesaid gear-wheel and a hand-wheel at the opposite end as and for the purpose specified.

12. The combination with the base and expansible and collapsible standard comprising the two sets of oppositely-placed cross-bars and the rods connecting the two sets and means for raising such standard, of a telescopic tubular standard extending upwardly through the aforesaid standard and means for operatively connecting the tubes to the collapsible standard aforesaid and fluid means for raising and lowering the tubular standard as specified.

13. The combination with the main top platform and supplemental platform suitably supported upon the same, of the racks located in suitable guideways at the bottom of the supplemental platform, the gear-wheels meshing with the rac'ks having their spindles suitably journaled in the supplemental platform and one of the spindles provided with turning means and the bridge comprising the two sets of cross-bars forming the sides and suitably connected together and to the ends of the racks, the cross-rods extending through the center of the cross-bars, the slotted side bars supported on the cross-rods and having a cross-plate connecting them to ether at the outside and a suitable floor for t e bridge as and for the purpose specified.

14. The combination with the main top platform and supplemental platform suitably supported upon the same, of the racks located in suitable guideways at the bottom of the supplemental platform, the gear-Wheels meshing with the racks having their spindles suitably journaled in the supplemental platform and one of the spindles provided with ICO log

IIO

turning' ineens and the bridge comprising the ing the sides and a spring-actuated roller Io two sets of cross-bars Jorining the sides and journaied et the inner end of the bridge unsuitably connected together and to the ends der the supplemental platform designed to of the racks, the Cross-rods extendingthrough g carry the sletted ioor of the bridge as and the Center of the cross-bars, the slotted side for the purpose speeiied.

bars supported on the cross-rods and having i ANGUS W. SHAW.

a cross-plate connecting them together at the Witnesses:

outside, a slatted Hoor for the bridge secured B. BOYD,

between the outer ends of the ero'ss-barsforml EDGAR SHEPPARD. 

